Behind The Scenes Tour With Bob Stoops

News9.com

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The Sooner football team has spent a lot of time on the practice field preparing for the season, but that isn't the only place they on the OU campus where they put time in at.

News9's Dean Blevins caught up with head coach Bob Stoops for a behind the scenes tour of the football facilities.

From the Hall of Fame where all the conference titles and national championship trophies are stored to the players locker room and the team meeting rooms there's a lot to see.

Coach Stoops not only gave us a walk through, but also explained some of the reasoning behind the facilities.

"Player spend a lot of time here, so you want them to have a comfortable environment that you like being around," said Stoops.

Even the wallpaper is all about the Sooners as the hallways are decked out with past team pictures, All-Americans and they even depict the always anticipated Red River Rivalry game.

Inside the players locker room, each student athlete has his own locker and the bottom compartment is complete with a filtration system to keep those smelly cleats in check.

One of the ‘coolest' parts of the Sooners facility are the recovery pools.

Players step down into the icy cool three-feet deep tubs after games and practice to aid muscle recovery.

"We keep these cold, we have it down to about 40 degrees," said Stoops. "We actually take attendance we want them to be in for five minutes, it just helps your legs come back faster (after practice)."

No question, the facilities are nice, but Coach Stoops makes sure its not too over the top.

"We don't want it too, too plush, but like the recovery pools, that's very functional. It really helps us recover and be ready for practice the next day," said Stoops.

"Everything we do we really have a strong purpose for."

Oklahoma opens the season Sept. 3 hosting the University of Tulsa at 7 p.m.